Tracking mechanism for music sheets



Sept.. 23, 1924-.' n

T. DANQUARD .TRACINeMk-:cnmsm Fon uusIc SHEETS ...7k In' Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS DANQUARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AUTO PNEUMATIC ACTION COMPANY, A COR/I EORATION OF NEW YORK.

TRACKING MECHANISM FOR MUSIC SHEETS.

Application led November 4, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.

Beit known that I, THOMAS DANQUARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Tracking Mechanism for Music Sheets, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to improve the operation of the automatic tracking mechanism employed in automatically operated musical instruments for keeping the perforated music sheet in proper lateral position on the apertured tracker bar, particularly when the music sheet is being rewound on the music spool. Automatic tracking mechanisms are now extensively employed but difficulty is encountered when using such devices in rewinding the music sheet on the music spool, because such rewinding usually takes place at such high speed that the automatic tracking mechanism does not have time to operate properly.

To overcome this difliculty, l have provided a locking mechanism ywhich holds the automatic tracking mechanism out of operation during rewinding whichr mechanism is also arranged so as to center the music spool or bring the same to an intermediate position and lock the same in such position during rewinding.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is afront elevation partly in diagram illustrating the application of my invention to a well known form of automatic tracking mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the pneumatics employed in such tracking mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation on the line lr-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the centering and locking device; and

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the position of some of the parts whenfthe tracking mechanism is in operation.

The invention will be a detailed description.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, A designates the apertured tracker bar over which the perforated .music sheet B is drawn from the music spool'C by a take-up roll D, these parts being arranged in the usual spool best understood by Serial No. 512,886.

box E. A gear 10 is mounted on the takeup roll or the shaft thereof and is engaged by a driving pinion 11 secured on the end of a shaft 12 which can slide in its bearings in the spool box and in a framework 13 secured to the side of the spool box.y A pinion 14 is mounted on the end of this shaft and is driven by a chain 15 carried around the pinion 16 of the motor. A clutch 17 is mounted on the shaft 12. A gear 18 ris loosely fitted on the shaft 12 and journalled in the frame 13 and the same carries a clutchv or pin 1Q which the clutch 17 can engage. A chain 2O is carried around said gear 18 and a pinion 21 on the shaft of the right hand music spool clutch or bearing. A shifter lever 22 is pivoted on the frame and engages the clutch 17. This shifter lever is connected by a link 23, armed shaft 24, link 25, pivoted lever 26, link 27 to the reroll lever 2S pivoted in; the usual manner, generally in the key bedof the instrument. This reroll lever connects by a link 29, lever 30 and link 3l to the motor governor and also by link 32 to a valve 33 arranged in a valve box 3-1 which valve is used to connect the player action to the exhaust.

When the reroll lever is in the position shown in the drawings, the action will be connected to the suction or exhaust and the motor will be operated at a overned speed to rotate the take-up roll to draw the music sheet forward over the tracker. lVhen the reroll lever is shifted to the left the music spool will be rotated from the motor at 'a high speed as the motor governor is cut out and direct connection is made thereto and at the same time the pneumatic action will be cut out of operation by the valve 33. This will cause the music sheet to be rewound on the music spool at a high speed.

The parts as thus far described are of any conventional or approved form. f

The automatic tracking mechanism shown as combined with the parts previously described consists of two operating pneumatics 35 and 36 which are connected to operate together by a bar 37, extending from which is a link 38 which is attached to a pivoted bell crank lever 39, which is connected by a link 40 to a cam 11 mounted on a shaft 12. This cam 41 engages the end of the right hand music spool clutch or bearing a3. The leftl hand music spool clutch or bearing 44C is engaged by a spring 45 which normally tends to force the music spool to the right. The tracker bar A is provided with two outer guide openings i6-e6 and with two inner guide openings lll-a7, the same being connected by pipes or tubes loll-i60 and d70-elif() to the valve box l? of the tracking mechanism. There are two valve mechanisms arranged in said bon, one for each shifting pneumatic, the right hand one being illustrated in detail. rl`he tube i60 for this valve mechanism is connected by passages under a diaphragm valve a8 and the tube 470 or this valve mechanism is connected by passages to the top of a diaphragm a9 connected to operate the diaphragm valve 48. fr passage with a bleed 50 entends from under the diaphragm valve Li8, under a diaphragm 5l which controls a double valve 52. An exhaust or suction passage 53 is connected by a pipe il to the pipe which is connected with the action as shown in Fig. l. 1When all of the guide openings in the tracker bar are closed by the music sheet the diaphragm valves #lll-l will remain down and the double valves 52 will also remain down and the suction or exhaust will be connected with both tracker pneumatics 35-36 and as they are opposed they will be locked in central or intermediate position. VIhen the music sheet wanders from one side far enough to uncover one of the guide openings llc, air will be admitted under the diaphragm valve t8 and then under the diaphragm 5l lifting a double valve 52 and connecting the shifter pneumatic controlled thereby to the atmosphere. This will allow the shifter pneumatics to operate just the right distance to shift the music sheet automatically laterally on the tracker bar just the proper distance to insure correct registration during the forward travel. This operation will take place with an expanded or wide music sheet.

lf a narrower music sheet is employed7 when the same is in normal position the guide openings t6-d6 will both be uncovered lifting both valves 52 and connecting both shifter pneumatics to the atmosphere. lf such music sheet should wander laterally one inner guide opening will be uncovered which will let air down on a diaphragm 9, will v close the diaphragm valve il@ and will allow the double valve 52 controlled thereby to drop, thus connecting the proper shifter pneumatic to the suction so that the shifter pneumatica will operate to make just the rightadjustment to keep the music sheet in proper registration.

This mechanism is of a well known type and works substantially on the plan shown by the patent granted in my name No. 171822975, June 20, 1916. llhile this well known form of automatic tracking mechanisin is illustrated, it is to be understood Lacasse that my improvements` hereinafter described can be applied to and used in combination with many other forms of automatic tracking mechanisms. r

.lo provide for the centralizing and locking functions previously described for use in connection with any suitable automatic tracking mechanism the following devices are provided.

ik block (l extends down from the valve boa. lP and the passage 53 previously mentioned entends through the same, which passage is connected to operate the shifter pneumatics 35 and 56 previously described and which passage is conuectedby pipe lill to the exhaust at sonic convenient point which is cut olli' when reroll is to take place.

The shifter pneumatics 235 and 86 are additionally connected together by` a bar 55. Two centering and locking pneumatics 56-56 are secured to the sidesofthe block G as illustrated in 5 and springs 57 are arranged on the sides thereof so as normally to force said pneumatica to their wide open positions. Screws or buttons5858 are arranged on the movable leafs of these centering pneumatics tl-G in position to engage pins 59 extending downwardly from the bar 55. 'lhe passage 53 connects by suitable side passages with the pneumatics 5tlg-56 as illustrated in Fig. 3. lVhen the music sheet is being drawn forward over the tracker bar for playing the suction or ez-ihaust is connected to the tracking mechanism. This will collapse said pneumatics 56--56 and will move the screws or abutments out of the way as illustrated in Fig. 6' so that the automatic tracking mechanism can function properly. `When rerolling takes place the suction or exhaust is out olii. This will allow the pneumatics Elle-5G to ei;- pand under the force oftheir springs ill-5l". This will cause the abutments 5&3--58` to engage the pins 59-59 which will move the shifter pneumatics 35 and 36 to halfopen or to an intermediate position and will loch the same in such position as shown` inlFig. l and thus will'move and lock the music spool C in central or an intermediate position during rerolling. The exhaust passage 53 may be provided with a bleed control passage 530 to regulate the speed of the opening of the centering pneumatica 56-56 after the exhaust is out olf.

Thus, the tracking mechanism will not work during such rerolling` and the music sheet will be rerolled accurately and nicely on the music spool as 'it is held in central or intermediate position, while such action takes place.

The details and arrangements herein shown and describedmay be greatly varied by a skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of my invention asexpressed in the claims.` l

-iii

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is c l. The combination of an apertured tracker bar, means for drawing a perforated music sheet from a music spool' forward over the tracker bar for playing, means for rotating the music spool for rewinding, an automatic tracking mechanism for maintaining the music sheet in proper lateral position on the tracker While travelling forward, and means for bringing the music spool to central or intermediate position during the rewinding operation.

2. The combination of an apertured tracker bar, means for drawing a perforated music sheet from a music spool forward over the tracker bar for playing, means for rotating the music spool for rewinding, an automatic tracking mechanism for maintaining the music sheet in proper lateral position on the tracker while travelling forward, and means for bringing the tracking mechanism and thus the music spool to an intermediate position during the rewinding operation.

3. The combination of an apertured tracker bar, means for drawing a. perforated music sheet from a music spool forward over the tracker bar for playing, means for rotating the music spool for rewinding, an automatic tracking mechanism for maintaining the music sheet in proper lateral position on the tracker while travelling forward, and means for bringing the tracking mechanism and music spool to an intermediate position and locking the same in such position during rewinding.

4f. The combination of an apertured tracker bar, means for drawing a perforated music sheet from a music spool forward over the tracker bar for playing, means for rotating the music spool for rewinding, an automatic tracking mechanism for maintaining the music sheet in proper lateral position on the tracker while travelling forward, means for cutting the tracking mechanism Vout of operation and bringing the same and the music spool to an intermediate position and locking the parts in such position during rewinding. f

5. The combination of an apertured tracker bar, means for drawing a perforated music sheet from a music spool forward over the tracker bar forplaying, means for rotating the music spool for rewinding, an automatic pneumatic tracking mechanism for maintaining the music sheet in proper lateral position on the tracker while travelling forward, and pneumatic mechanism for bringing the tracking mechanism to an intermediate position during rewinding.

6. The combination of an apertured tracker bar, means for drawing a perforated music sheet from a music spool forward over the tracker bar for playing, means for rotating the music spool for rewinding, an automatic pneumatic tracking mechanism for maintaining the music sheet in proper lateral position on the tracker bar while travelling forward, and spring actuated pneumatic mechanism connected to move the tracking mechanism to an intermediate position during rewinding.

7. The combination of an apertured tracker bar, means for drawing a perforated music sheet from a music spool forward over the tracker bar for playing, means for rotating the music spool for rewinding, an automatic pneumatic tracking mechanism for maintaining the music sheet in proper lateral position on the tracker while travelling forward, and two spring actuated pneumatics connected so that they will be collapsed when the tracking mechanism 'is' in operation and provided with means which will move the tracking mechanism to fixed position during rewinding.

8. The combination of an apertured tracker bar, means for drawing a perforated music sheet from a music spool forward over the tracker bar for playing, means for rotating the music spool for rewinding, an automatic pneumatic tracking mechanism for maintaining the music sheet in proper lateral position on the tracker while travelling forward, a connection from the tracking mechanism to the exhaust, which connection is cut oli during rewinding, two spring actuating neumatics arranged so that they will be co lapsed when the tracking mechanism is in operation and so that they will expand when the exhaust is cut off and move and lockthe tracking mechanism. in fixed position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aHiXed my signature.

THOMAS DANQUARD. 

